dated February 27, 1951: Attacks on Red China's bases

American newspapers on February 24, published an interview with
General Lawton J. Collins, United States Army Chief of Staff, who
was reported to have said the United States would ``strike back''
at Chinese land and sea bases if the Communist launched sea or
air attacks on the United Nations forces in Korea.

General Collins added, ``In such a case there would no longer be
a ``privileged sanctuary for the enemy. The war would enter an
entirely new phase, calling for new measure on our part. We would
be forced to hit at enemy bases.The newspapers said that since
most of the troops in Korea were American, General Collins
believed the United States would be justified in acting
unilaterally in striking at Communist bases... But, they added,
the General was confident the Allies would approve the action as
a defensive measure to protect their own troops.

The reports said confidence in Washington over the Korean
situation had grown rapidly in the past month, and quoted General
Collins as saying. ``We have hurt them badly. We have killed a
startling number of their first line troops. No nation can stand
such losses in trained manpower over a period of time - and I
don't care how many men they have.''

In Tokyo, the United Nations five-day old offensive along the
Korean central front struck stronger Communist resistance on
February 24 as it neared the main Chinese defence line. The
Commonwealth troops taking part in the drive, ``Operation
Killer,'' faced heavy mortar and small arms fire from Communists.